The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Views on Peace

In two letters from Major John Wesley Pitts to his wife "Vin"
"Camp 1st Regt. Ala Reserves
Near Blakely Ala.
Saturday Sept. 17/65
My dear Vin;
-------I have come to the conclusion that there will be no more fighting at least until after the Presidental Election. Ole Abe, I think, is satisfied with the victories already gained and will be afraid to risk an engagement here or in Atlanta. He knows that if he should be defeated at any place between this and the Election that it would defeat him for the Presidency and cause McLellans election. As it is, his sucess at Atlanta and Mobile gives him some strength and he is willing, I think, to risk his election on what he has already accomplished. This I think together with the growing decline on the part of the people of the people of the north for peace will induce him to stop fighting until after the election. In the meantime if the Democrats should succeed in electing their candidate they would of course undo everything done by Lincoln and adopt a different policy altogether toward the south which would in a short time terminate the war. If we could only gain a decided victory at some point it would secure beyond doubt the election of a Peace man as President and thus close the war."

"Mobile Ala. Feb 9/65
Dearest Vin;
------As regards to Peace my letters of last week(these letters are missing, Ken) will explain my views. While I desire peace as much as any man yet I do not see how we are ever to have it unless by some intervention of Foreign Powers - of accepting reconstruction and that our government will not do."

He and the "entire command" was captured the 9th of April 1865 at Fort Blakely and sent to Ships Island, Mississippi. Any misspelling is mine. He was a newspaper editor and a very good writer.